Justin Braun’s elbow infection is improving but he will still miss a third straight game when the Sharks host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at SAP Center.

Braun took part in his first full practice Monday since he was diagnosed with the infection early last week. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said after practice that Braun will not play against the Penguins, although he felt the defenseman “would be back sooner rather than later.” Continue Reading →

Sharks forward Patrick Marleau picked up an assist on Brent Burns’ even strength goal 7:54 into the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins for his 1,000th career NHL regular season point Saturday.

Marleau dug the puck out of the corner and fed Joel Ward, whose shot on goal was stopped by Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. But the rebound came right to Burns, whose shot found the net to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

The Sharks held an optional skate Tuesday morning, but it still appears forward Melker Karlsson will make his season debut for San Jose as it closes out a four-game homestand against the New York Islanders.

Karlsson skated with Tommy Wingels and Matt Nieto in practice on Monday, but Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said Tuesday morning that he hasn’t settled on line combinations for the game. The Sharks brought up Nikolay Goldobin on Tuesday, a curious move considering how poorly he played for the Barracuda on Sunday in the eyes of Roy Sommer. Defenseman Mirco Mueller was also recalled.

Forward Melker Karlsson took part in his first practice in a Sharks uniform this season as he was recalled from the Barracuda on Monday.

Karlsson, who was injured for all of training camp, skated on the third line at center with Tommy Wingels and Matt Nieto on the wings. That line might together when the Sharks host the New York Islanders on Tuesday to close out a four-game homestand, although coach Pete DeBoer said nothing is yet in stone. Karlsson was also on the second penalty kill unit Monday.

“We’re going to see how he feels and we haven’t decided exactly how we’re going to use him,” DeBoer said, “but’s he’s going to be a hard guy not to use.”

Patrick Marleau has worn nothing but teal in his NHL career. But is there a chance that will change?

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada that there is one NHL team that is pushing hard for Marleau’s services.

From Friedman:

“It’s difficult to pin down because none of the particulars are talking. The trade market is tight right now, but one of the names we’re hearing out there is Patrick Marleau. He’s got a no move clause and there’s zero evidence the Sharks have asked him to waive it, so I can’t say who is pushing for it, but his name is definitely out there.”

The Sharks will have their work cut out for them over the next few days as they take on three straight Central Division teams. After Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators, they hit the road to face the Dallas Stars on Saturday and the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

I wrote about Brent Burns for Wednesday’s paper, which you can read here. Sharks coach Pete DeBoer credited Burns for the way he played against the Hurricanes and said everybody on the roster will have to be disciplined with their games against the Preds and Stars.

“We have good offensive players, players that have historically put up numbers. We have to all, as a group, make sure we’re walking that line where we’re not cheating to the offensive side too much,” DeBoer said. “I think these next two opponents are two of the top two teams in the western Conference, both with a lot of firepower. Out attention to detail in that area is going to have to be really good.”

Only a few people know how close Kevin Bieksa was to joining the Sharks this summer, and Bieksa said Saturday that he isn’t one of them.

“It depends who you ask,” Bieksa said. “Who really knows? At the end of the day, it was a difficult time in my family in real life and I’m glad it’s over with. Not sure exactly how close or how far I was. But it’s in the past now.”

Defenseman Jeremy Roy, the Sharks’ second round draft pick earlier this year, has signed his entry level contract. War-on-ice.com reported the deal as having an annual average value of just over $889,000 for three years.

Roy, selected 31st overall last June, is participating in this week’s Futures Games against the Anaheim Ducks. He played in Saturday’s 4-1 win by the Sharks over the Ducks and will likely be in the lineup again for Sunday’s 2 p.m. game at Sharks Ice.

Roy, 18, will be the youngest player in main camp next week and is at best a longshot to make the Sharks out of camp this season. Still , Roy said Saturday, he wants to open some eyes and stick around for as long as he can before going back to the QMJHL.

The Sharks announced the roster for their “Futures” games against the Anaheim Ducks this weekend and their main training camp roster. No big bombshells in terms of UFAs coming to Sharks camp on a tryout basis, and three of the Sharks’ draft picks from this past June will be at the big camp — Timo Meier, Jeremy Roy and Adam Helewka.

Gabryel Boudreau, a 2013 draft pick by the Sharks, has also been invited to camp after he was not given a qualifying offer earlier this year. He’ll be looking to turn pro and play for the Barracuda.

The Futures games are Saturday at 5 p.m. at SAP Center and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Sharks Ice. Main training camp starts Sept. 18, with the first group going on at 9:30 a.m.